Top Ten Fantasy Books

It’s really hard for book lovers to choose their favorite books. I’ve always been a fan of the Fantasy genre, and have been reading it since I could read anything (and even before that, since my mom read out loud to me for as long as I can remember). Here are some of my top picks for favorite Fantasy books/series ever.

1. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien – Might as well just get this one out of the way right off the bat. I’ve read The Hobbit more than any other book ever, and I highly recommend it to everyone I meet. The Lord of the Rings is not as easy of a read, but obviously still one of the Kings of Fantasy.
2. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling – DUH. Is it possible to have a list of the top Fantasy books without having Harry Potter on it? I grew up as these were being published (#harrypottergeneration). Oh yes. I went to the midnight BOOK releases dressed up. Not just the movies. It doesn’t get much better than following Harry, Ron, and Hermione on their quest to defeat Lord Voldemort and pass their O.W.L.s.
3. The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer – This is kind of a mix of Sci-Fi and Fantasy, but it’s easily one of my very favorite YA Fantasy series. Actually, it is my favorite. It’s that good.

1.  Sabriel by Garth Nix – this is another one I found pretty early and I completely fell in love with the dark fantasy atmospheric feel of it. Sabriel is a necromancer, but Nix has created such a freaking cool magic system here with all the bells that call the dead and such, plus there’s a magical talking cat, and a extremely likable and dynamic love interest. I re-read this one as often as I can.
2. Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson – Mistborn not only has a fascinating magic system, it’s like a fantasy version of Ocean’s Eleven. I mean, the stakes are higher, cause they’re trying to defeat a super evil dude, but it’s in essence a heist, which is always fun and entertaining. Plus Brandon Sanderson is a brilliant author, so you can’t go wrong.
3. The Covenant Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout – this is probably my favorite of JLA’s series. I used to devour her books the second they came out; I still check in now and then to see what she’s writing, but it’s not as crazy as it used to be. This series though was awesome. Greek Mythology for a modern audience. Super fun.

1. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor – While I didn’t like the second and third book quite as much as the first, Daughter of Smoke and Bone is one of those books that just completely blows you away with the world building, the atmosphere, the poetic writing…really so good.
2. His Fair Assassins Trilogy by Robin LaFevers – ASSASSIN NUNS. This is a fascinating series following three assassins as they navigate the failing court of Brittany and the relationships that come out of it. There’s some dark stuff in these books, but I adore the three girls and their respective romances. This is another I need to re-read.
3. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray – so it’s been an eternity since I read this series. This is one of the first books I really remember being enthralled by and reading late into the night somewhere in early high school. I have no idea how I’d like it now (sounds like it’s time for a re-read!) but I was marvelously in love with it then.

1. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas – this one is actually kind of sad for me, because I’m currently refusing to read Queen of Shadows. As I’m sure you can guess, I’m firmly Team Chaol, and I’m disgusted that he is easily discarded in the 4th book. So I’m boycotting. But up until then, this series was AWESOME. If you’re a fan of YA Fantasy, you’ve probably read this one.

Honorable Mentions: The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis; A Wrinkle in Time and A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L’Engle; City of Bones by Cassandra Clare; The Collectors’ Society by Heather Lyons; Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder; The Iron Fey by Julie Kagawa; Soulless by Gail Carriger; The Elemental Trilogy by Sherry Thomas.

What are your favorite Fantasy books? 

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.